Flossing device with internal floss feed

ABSTRACT

A flossing device has an internal floss feed in which floss is advanced from a storage chamber in the handle of the device, through feed gears, to a pair of spaced apart tines. The tines are configured to fit into the mouth such that the floss may be easily worked between the teeth. Spent floss is returned through the return gears, the return gears having a greater diameter than the feed gear, thus ensuring the floss remains taut between the tines, to an integral cutter whereby it may be cut off and discarded. In a second embodiment, the flossing head has a vibratory device to aid in the flossing action.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to dental hygiene products. More particularly, the invention comprises a flossing device with internal storage of floss and an internal feed mechanism for progressing fresh floss through the flossing head

2. Description of the Prior Art

Numerous flossing devices have been disclosed over the years, many with internal storage for the floss, and many of those with feed mechanisms for advancing the floss through the flossing tines.

Of particular note are U.S. Pat. No. 6,526,994 to Santoro on Mar. 4, 2003; U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,207 to Bushman on Oct. 20, 1998; U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,133 to Kossak, et al., on Sep. 7, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,271 to Uros on Oct. 6, 1998; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,331 to Tanriverdi on Dec. 14, 1993.

In each case cited above, floss is fed from a supply spool, through the tines and back to a take up spool, with all motivational forces being applied to the either the supply spool, the take up spool or both. In none of the above are the motivational forces applied directly to the floss, as in the present invention.

None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Dentists recommend regular flossing as one of the best ways to maintain dental hygiene and health. Many people, however, find the act of flossing clumsy and difficult. Flossing by hand requires stretching floss between the fingers of both hands and then working the fingers into the mouth, flossing a given area of the mouth, advancing the floss through the fingers and then flossing another area of the mouth. The advancing of the floss is important in order to prevent the spreading of germs an debris from one area of the mouth to another. By means of the internal mechanism provided by the present invention, the floss is easily refreshed by rotating the floss advance wheel.

The present invention provides a flossing device which has a chamber within its hollow handle in which a spool of floss is stored. The free end of the floss is threaded through an array of feed gears to a pair of tines at the head of the device and back to the take up gears for take up. The floss is maintained taut between the tines of the head for effective flossing. In an alternate embodiment, an electrically operated vibrator is housed in the flossing head to aid in stimulating the gums and removal of dental debris.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a flossing device which is easy to use.

It is another object of the invention to provide a flossing device which stores the floss internally.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a flossing device which is self feeding.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flossing device which can easily provide fresh floss for each tooth to be flossed.

It is, again, an object of the invention to provide a flossing device which maintains the floss in a taut state between the tines of the head for effective flossing.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a flossing device which isolates clean floss from contaminated floss.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flossing device which can easily be washed and cleaned after use without making the floss in the storage chamber wet or contaminated.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a flossing device with vibratory action to aid in gum stimulation and removal of dental debris.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the flosser of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the flosser of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the flosser of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional side view of the flosser of the present invention at line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a partial top, partially cut away view of the flosser of the present invention at 5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a partial side, cut away view of the left side of the flosser of the present invention at line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a partial side, cut away view of the right side of the flosser of the present invention at line 7-7 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is an exploded top perspective view of the flosser of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the threading tool of the flosser of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the flosser of the present invention with an oscillating head.

FIG. 11 is a side, cut away view of the flosser of the present invention at line 11-11 of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The flosser 100 of the present invention, as shown in its assembled state at FIGS. 1 and 2, is depicted in further detail at FIGS. 3 through 8.

The flosser 100 has a body 102 having a hollow handle 104 portion at a first end, handle 104 having a threaded cap 106 at a first end of handle 104 portion and a threading aperture 108 at a second end of handle 104. Handle 104 is dimensioned and configured to comfortably fit into a human hand.

At a second end of body 102 is a head 110, head 110 extending longitudinally from the second end of handle 104. Head 110 is solid and substantially flat on its upper and lower surfaces, and is dimensioned and configured for the free end of head 110 to comfortably fit within a human mouth. At the free end of head 110 is a pair of tines 112 f and 112 r which are angled downwardly from the free end of head 110 at an angle which allows easy access to the teeth. (In the preceeding and hereinafter, the designation “f” behind a number will refer to the feed side of the flosser 100 and the designation “r” the return side.) Each of tine 112 f and 112 r has a groove 114 f and 114 r, respectively, formed at the end thereof, the grooves 114 f and 114 r being substantially in a plane with one another. Tines 112 f and 112 r each have a guide groove 124 f and 124 r, respectively, formed proximate the edge thereof to aid in guiding floss 202 along the length thereof.

Proximate the juncture with handle 104, head 110 floss feed assembly 150 mounted within and on the two opposing sides of head 110 proximate its juncture with handle 104. Interior of head 110 is a floss feed lever well 151 formed along the longitudinal axis of head 110 proximate its juncture with handle 104. (While floss feed lever 151 could be closed at the bottom, as illustrated, it could likewise be formed passing fully through head 110). The floss feed assembly 150 consists of a floss feed gear 152 rotatably mounted at a first end of an axle pin 158, which is mounted through head 110 and floss feed lever well 151 and substantially normal thereto. A return gear 160 is, likewise, rotatably mounted at the second end of axle pin 158, feed gear 152 and return gear 160 being on opposite sides of head 110.

A feed drive gear 156 is rigidly mounted at a first end of an drive axle pin 162, which is mounted through head 110 and floss feed lever well 151, substantially normal thereto. A return drive gear 164 is, likewise, rigidly mounted at the second end of drive axle pin 162.

Axle pin 158 and drive axle pin 162 are positioned and feed gear 152 and return gear 160 and feed drive gear 156 and return drive gear 164 are dimensioned such that feed gear 152 engages feed drive gear 156 snugly, and the return drive gear 164 engages return gear 160 snugly.

A floss advance lever 166 has a first, free end and a second attachment end. An aperture 165 is formed through the floss advance lever 166 proximate the attachment end. Drive axle pin 162 passes through aperture 165 of floss advance lever 166, within floss advance lever well 151, thereby allowing floss advance lever 166 to rotatably engage drive axle pin 162. A ratchet gear 168 is fixedly attached to drive axle pin 162 at a point within floss advance lever well 151 at a point adjacent floss advance lever 166, and a ratchet engagement member 167 is attached to the side of floss advance lever 166 such that an end of ratchet engagement member 167 engages ratchet gear 168. The engagement of ratchet gear 168 and ratchet engagement member 167 allows the floss advance lever 166 to rotate the drive axle pin 162 on a forward stroke of floss advance lever 166 and move freely on the back stroke of floss advance lever 166, thereby rotating feed drive gear 156 and return drive gear 164 in only one direction. A compression spring 170 returns the floss advance lever to the rearward position automatically.

A feed capstan 172 and a return capstan 176 are situated between feed drive gear 156 and return drive gear 164 and tines 112 f and 112 r, respectively, thereby aiding in guiding the floss 202 as it passes between the feed drive gear 156 and return gear 164 and the grooves 124 f and 124 r of tines 112 f and 112 r, respectively. Grooves 172 a and 176 a around the perimeters of capstans 172 and 176, respectively, retain the floss 202 on the capstans 172 and 176. Feed assembly housings 116 f and 116 r enclose the feed and return sides of feed assembly 150, respectively. It is preferable that feed assembly housings 116 f and 116 r leave the top and bottom of the feed assembly open to aid in the rinsing of the feed assembly 150 with running water.

A floss cutter 180, as is typically found on floss dispensers is mounted on the lower surface of head 110.

A light weight, flexible tile 182, configured to conform to the face of the juncture wall between hollow handle 104 and head 110, aids in preventing water from infiltrating the interior of handle 104 through the threading aperture 108 during washing. Tile 182 has sufficient flexibility to allow the floss to easily pass through the threading aperture 108 while still conforming to the surface of the wall around threading aperture 108.

In a second embodiment of the flosser 100A (FIGS. 10 and 11), a vibrator 400 may be added to the head 110 of flosser 100A. Vibrator 400 consists of a motor 402 with an eccentric head 404. Motor 400 is powered by an electrical cord (not shown) or battery (not shown) housed in the hollow handle 104. The vibration of vibrator 400 provides improved stimulation of the gums and cleaning of the teeth over the flosser 100, without the vibrator 400.

A threading needle 300 (FIG. 9) is provided to aid in the threading of floss through the threading aperture 108 of handle 104. Threading needle 300 has a shaft 302 which may be inserted through threading aperture 108 from head 110, and extended out the end of handle 104. A finger ring 304 is at a first end of the shaft 302 and an eye 306 at the second end. The end of a floss 202 from a spool 200 may be threaded through the eye 306 of needle 300 before withdrawing needle 300 from threading aperture 108. The floss 202 is then threaded through the flosser 100, as further defined hereinbelow.

Referring now to FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, floss 202 from a spool 200 is fed through threading aperture 108 to the floss feed assembly 150, using needle 300. The end of the floss 202 is then fed through feed gear 152 and feed drive gear 156, then into the groove 172 a around feed capstan 172. The floss 202 is then fed along the guide groove 124 f of a first tine 112 f, through the tine groove 114 f of the same tine 112 f and then through the tine groove 114 r of the second tine 112 r. (In use, the floss 202 between the tines 112 becomes soiled with food debris, therefore, hereinafter, the soiled floss will be referred as floss 202 r, soiled floss being returned to the floss feed assembly 150.) The floss 202 r is then fed through guide groove 124 r and back to the floss feed assembly 150 where it passes between the return drive gear 16 and return gear 160 before passing to the 180, where spent floss 202 r may be cut off.

Return drive gear 164 has a larger diameter than does feed drive gear 156, thereby ensuring that the floss 202 is constantly under tension, preventing slack in the floss 202 between the tines 112. It should be noted that clean floss 202 and soiled floss 202 r travel through different channels throughout the system. Floss is fed through the floss feed assembly 150 by ratcheting the floss advance lever 166 forward.

In use, the tines 112 of the flosser 100 should be placed within the mouth, with the floss 202 passing into the gap between two adjacent teeth. After flossing between the two teeth, the flosser 100 should be removed from the mouth and the floss 202 advanced between the tines 112 by ratcheting floss advance lever 166. This action should be repeated after flossing each pair of adjacent teeth. The used floss 202 may be periodically cut by cutter 180. After flossing, the floss feed assembly 150 should be cleaned by rinsing with running water, and the flosser 100 left to dry.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A flossing device with internal floss feed comprising: a body having a handle adapted for gripping with the human hand and a flossing head, an end of which is adapted for insertion into the human mouth, storage means for storing a spool from which floss is discharged, feed means for feeding said floss to said flossing head, spanning means for spanning said floss between two points on said flossing head, said spanning means sized for insertion of said floss between the teeth of a user, return means for returning a used portion of said floss from said flossing head, advance means for advancing said floss through said feeding means and said return means, housing means for housing said feed means and said return means, and cutting means for cutting spent portions of said floss.
 2. A flossing device with internal floss feed, as defined in claim 1, wherein said storage means comprises a hollow compartment within said handle for holding a spool of said floss, a cap for removably sealing the end of said hollow compartment, and a threading aperture for allowing passage of said floss from within said compartment to said feed means.
 3. A flossing device with internal floss feed, as defined in claim 1, wherein said feed means comprises a feed gear rigidly affixed to a first end of an axle rotatably mounted through a portion of said flossing head and a feed drive gear rigidly affixed to a first end of a drive axle pin rotatably mounted through said flossing head and in interconnecting, geared juxtaposition with said feed gear, whereby floss can pass between said feed gear and said feed drive gear, only by advancing said feed gear and said feed drive gear, such that said floss is pulled from said spool and advanced beyond said feed gear and said feed drive gear, and a feed capstan for guiding said floss from said feed means.
 4. A flossing device with internal floss feed, as defined in claim 1, wherein said spanning means comprises a pair of tines at an end of said flossing head at a distance from said handle, each tine having a free end, a first one of said tines having a guide groove for guiding said floss from said feed means to said free end of said first tine, a tine groove at said free end of each of said tines for guiding said floss from said first tine to the second of said tines, and a second guide groove in said second tine for guiding said floss from said second tine to said return means.
 5. A flossing device with internal floss feed, as defined in claim 3, wherein said return means comprises a return capstan for guiding said floss from said second tine to a return drive gear rigidly affixed to a second end of said drive axle and a return gear rigidly affixed to a second end of said axle pin, said return drive gear having a diameter greater than that of said feed drive gear, resulting in said floss being kept in a taut state between said tines, and said return drive gear in interconnecting, geared juxtaposition with said return gear, said floss intended to pass between said return drive gear and said return gear such that said floss is pulled from said tines and advanced beyond said return drive gear and said return gear.
 6. A flossing device with internal floss feed, as defined in claim 5, wherein said advance means comprises a floss advance lever rotatably and ratchetingly affixed to said drive axle, said ratchet having a plurality of catch notches formed around a hub thereof, said catch notches adapted to engage, in a ratcheting manner, a ratchet engagement member rigidly affixed to said floss advance lever, thereby allowing said floss advance lever to advance said feed drive gear and said return drive gear in only one direction, and, said a spring adapted to return said floss advance lever to a stored position, said floss advance lever advancing said feed drive gear and said return drive gear, said feed drive gear and said return drive gear, in turn, driving said feed gear and said return gear.
 7. A flossing device with internal floss feed, as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing means comprises a cover, removably affixed, enclosing said feed means and said return means, respectively, each of said covers being open at a top and bottom thereof, thereby aiding in cleansing of said feed means and said return means.
 8. A flossing device with internal floss feed, as defined in claim 7, wherein said cutting means comprises a floss cutter affixed flossing device.
 9. A flossing device with internal floss feed, as defined in claim 2, further comprising sealing means for sealing said storage means from intrusion of water during cleaning of said flossing device, said sealing means comprising a tile located at the end of said housing means and against the portion of the hollow compartment of the handle containing said threading aperture, to prevent infiltration of water into said hollow chamber during washing of said flossing device.
 10. A flossing device with internal floss feed, as defined in claim 1, wherein said flossing head further comprises vibratory means for aiding in stimulating the gums and removing dental debris.
 11. A flossing device with internal floss feed, as defined in claim 10, wherein said vibratory means comprises a motor and an eccentric head.
 12. A flossing device with internal floss feed, as defined in claim 11, wherein said electric motor is powered by a battery internal of said flossing device.
 13. A flossing device with internal floss feed, as defined in claim 11, wherein said electric motor is powered by an electrical cord and plug for connection to an external power supply.
 14. A flossing kit comprising a flossing device and threading means for threading floss through said flossing device, said flossing device comprising: a body having a handle adapted for gripping with the human hand and a flossing head, an end of which is adapted for insertion into the human mouth, storage means for storing a spool from which floss is discharged, feed means for feeding said floss to said flossing head, spanning means for spanning said floss between two points on said flossing head, said spanning means sized for insertion of said floss between the teeth of a user, return means for returning a used portion of said floss from said flossing head, advance means for advancing said floss through said feeding means and said take up means, housing means for housing said feed means and said return means, and cutting means for cutting spent portions of said floss; said threading means comprising: a needle having a shaft, a finger ring at a first end of said shaft and an eye at a second end of said shaft, said shaft being adapted to be place through said threading aperture and through said hollow compartment, said eye being adapted to receive an end of said floss for pulling said floss through said hollow compartment and said threading aperture. 